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Nat'l University Ekiden Updates Here

Looks like I just went over my update limit on Twitter - sorry, it's the first time I've tried to use it for this. I'll look for another option next time. In the meantime I'll add updates to the comments below. Not sure if that has a max too but I guess we'll find out.

Update: Part one of the Nationals commentary can be found here.

Comments

Brett Larner said…
Meiji's #2 guy Ishikawa overtook Hoshi. Meiji missing ace Kodai Matsumoto. Toyo's Takami retook Chuo Gakuin's Miura. Gando of Nihon about to overtake Hoshi for 4th.
Brett Larner said…
Gando 5th - 2:49 for last km. Tokai 7th.

Current standings:

1-Waseda
2-Toyo
3-Chuo Gakuin
4-Meiji
5-Nihon
6-Komazawa
7-Tokai

Looks like Tokai will catch Komazawa.
Brett Larner said…
Gando keeps moving up - less than a min behind Hiraga. Tokai took Komazawa for 6th.
Brett Larner said…
Still 4k to go - looks like Hoshi (Kmzw) might fall even further. 4 more stages to go - Waseda looks pretty good right now. Nihon will be dangerous if they're within 2 minutes on the last stage. Whoa, Tokyo Nogyo and Yamanashi Gakuin take Hoshi right before the CM break!
Brett Larner said…
Gando takes Miura for 4th. Chuo passes Komazawa - Kmzw now in 11th. Hoshi running 3:35/km.
Brett Larner said…
Hiraga (Waseda) in trouble - sideache. Toyo's Takami closing - 14 sec back. 1.5 km to go. Gando might catch Meiji's Ishikawa.
Brett Larner said…
Kyoto Sangyo takes Hoshi (3:38 last km) - Kmzw now 12th. It's Hakone all over again.

200 m to go - Hiraga is safe. Yusuke Mita, one of Waseda's best guys, is next.
Brett Larner said…
Toyo 2nd 21 sec back.
Meiji 3rd, 13 sec behind Toyo
Nihon 4th 14 sec behind Meiji
Chuo Gakuin 5th another 25 sec back
Tokai rounds out seeded bracket. Daichi Kogyo 7th just back from Tokai. Tokyo Nogyo and Yamanashi Gakuin in range too.
Brett Larner said…
Komazawa 13th.....

5th Stage - 11.6 km.

Aces: Mita (Waseda) and Chiba (Toyo) - currently 1-2. Both were great in Hakone this year.
Brett Larner said…
7 schools get the white sash start on this leg.
Brett Larner said…
Looks like Meiji's in 2nd now. That's a surprise. Like I said, they're missing their best guy, Kodai Matsumoto.
Brett Larner said…
Komazawa's frosh Kakiage starts digging his way out of the hole Hoshi dug. Komazawa has Takabayashi on 6th leg - an ace but unstable. Another frosh on 7th, then their best guy, Fukatsu, the runner up at the Hakone Yosenkai, on anchor.

Looks like Meiji's Yasuda is catching up to Mita. Mita running 3:00 pace even.
Brett Larner said…
Kmzw 8:43 thru 3k.

Nihon's Taniguchi moving up on Toyo's Chiba. Daiichi Kogyo likewise making up ground on Tokai for the last seeded spot.
Brett Larner said…
Taniguchi took Chiba - Nihon now 3rd. Nihon could win this. Yasuda is about to take Mita to put Meiji in the lead - can't see them pulling it off without Matsumoto, though. Waseda's anchor Ozaki has been great this season.

Tokai takes Chuo Gakuin for 5th.
Brett Larner said…
Waseda just can't pull a win off. Nihon's Taniguchi is about to take Mita. Toyo is out of sight.

Taniguchi actually doesn't look very good, but if he and the 6th/7th leg guys hold his current position they've got it once Kenyan Gitau runs the anchor stage.

Taniguchi to 2nd.
Brett Larner said…
Daiichi Kogyo catches Chuo Gakuin for 6th at same time Taniguchi catches Mita. Toyo's Chiba is visible in background in 4th holding his right side.
Brett Larner said…
Seko and Kushibe, the two celebrity announcers, are both Waseda alumni.
Brett Larner said…
JRN associate editor Mika Tokairin picked Meiji for top six, but I didn't think they'd do it, especially not without Matsumoto. Looking good even though they won't be able to hold off Gitau on the anchor leg. Yasuda has 400 m to go. He was 21st of 26 on the 1st stage at Nat'ls as a frosh.
Brett Larner said…
6th Stage - 12.3 km

Aces: Takabayashi (Komazawa), Marubayashi (Nihon)

1. Meiji
2. Nihon +34 sec
3. Waseda +22 sec
4. Toyo +30 sec
5. Tokai +7 sec
6. Daiichi Kogyo +45 sec
-----
7. Chuo Gakuin +2 sec
8. Yamanashi Gakuin + 20 sec
Brett Larner said…
Tokyo Nogyo 10th- missing ace Kazuki Tomaru. Komazawa 11th - Takabayashi is best runner on 6th leg but very on and off. He was terrible at Hakone and Izumo but great at the Yosenkai 20k two weeks ago.
Brett Larner said…
Aoyama Gakuin down to 15th.

Takabayashi takes Tokyo Nogyo's Takayama for 10th.

Nihon has made up 7 sec on Meiji's lead.
Brett Larner said…
No white-sash start on this leg. Yamanashi Gakuin takes Daiichi Kogyo - Chuo Gakuin already did. CG 6th, YG 7th, DK 8th.

Komazawa's Takabayashi 8:26 through 3 km.
Brett Larner said…
Marubayashi (Nihon) not advancing on Meiji's frosh Watanabe - only 2 sec closer at 5k than at start of the leg.
Brett Larner said…
Tokai about to catch Toyo, and Yamanashi Gakuin about the catch Chuo Gakuin for 6th - the last seeded spot.

Takabayashi 14:21 through 5k, Komazawa in 10th. Marubayashi losing ground to Watanabe - Nihon now 46 sec behind Meiji.
Brett Larner said…
Takabayashi made up 1:30 on Daiichi Kogyo's Maruno in just over 6 km - now in 9th. Waseda's Maeda looks to be making up ground on Nihon's Marubayashi.
Brett Larner said…
Meiji now 1:12 ahead of Nihon.

Takabayashi takes Chuo for 8th. About to take Chuo Gakuin too. Yamanashi Gakuin in 6th is in sight but probably not in range with just over 2 km left.

Waseda's runner is Kanzawa - my mistake.
Brett Larner said…
Leader Watanabe of Meiji 30:07 through 10 km.
Brett Larner said…
Toyo's Sato about to take Waseda's Kanzawa - both are right behind Nihon's Marubayashi.

Komazawa's Takabayashi into 7th past Chuo Gakuin - coach Oyagi is yelling at Takabayashi to take Yamanashi Gakuin. No chance, though.
Brett Larner said…
Whoa, Sato into 2nd! 800 m to go. Frosh Watanabe of Meiji will hang on to the lead.

7th stage: 11.9 km

Aces: Yokoyama (Aoyama Gakuin)
Brett Larner said…
1. Meiji
2. Toyo +1:04
3. Nihon +0:09
4. Waseda +0:05
5. Tokai +0:55
6. Yamanashi Gakuin +0:05
-----
7. Komazawa +0:33
8. Chuo Gakuin +0:25
9. Chuo +0:13
Brett Larner said…
Toyo's Tanaka looking good in 2nd. Waseda's Maeda has caught Nihon's Yokomatsu, but Nihon is still in good position for anchor Gitau.
Brett Larner said…
Yamanashi Gakuin's Iwata has caught Tokai's Nagata for 5th.

It's worth nothing that Nittai Univ. is not here because they could not run the qualifying race in June due to the ridiculous marijuana suspension scandal last spring.
Brett Larner said…
15 min. time limit for the white sash start here. Chukyo is just going to make it. Five schools left behind.
Brett Larner said…
Toyo's Tanaka - 14:43 through 5k, opening up a bit of ground on Waseda and Nihon.
Brett Larner said…
Meiji's Endo is doing a good job up front. He's got about 1:10 on Nihon, but it's not quite enough to put Meiji's anchor Hosokawa out of Gitau's range. Nihon will win unless Gitau runs the worst race of his life.
Brett Larner said…
Gitau won the 800 m, 1500 m, 5000 m and 10000 m at May's Kanto Univ. Champs and the 5000 m and 10000 m at Sept's Nat'l Univ. Champs. The 800 m was a meet record.
Brett Larner said…
Nihon's Yokomatsu 1:30 behind the lead and struggling, but Waseda's Maeda hurting even more and 3 sec back.

Aoyama Gakuin's Yokoyama looking good - tryng to beat their seed of 15th.
Brett Larner said…
Komazawa's Gotoda in 7th only 20 back from Tokai. Komazawa anchor Fukatsu should overtake Tokai and 5th placer Yamanashi Gakuin.
Brett Larner said…
Less than 800 m to go for Endo of Meiji. Strange form, but he kept it together.

Waseda's Maeda has completely fallen away from Nihon's Yokomatsu.
Brett Larner said…
Gitau talking about the importance of confidence and inner strength.
Brett Larner said…
8th Stage (anchor) - 19.7 km

Aces:

Fukatsu (Komazawa)
Ozaki (Waseda)
Nakagawa (Yamanashi Gakuin)
Gitau (Nihon)
Brett Larner said…
1. Meiji
2. Toyo +1:04
3. Nihon +0:49
4. Waseda +0:32
5. Yamanashi Gakuin +0:28
6. Tokai +0:16
-----
7. Komazawa +0:04
8. Chuo +0:30
9. Chuo Gakuin +0:06
Brett Larner said…
Gitau has to make up 1:53 on leader Hosokawa of Meiji, 6 sec/km over 19.7 km.
Brett Larner said…
Fukatsu of Komazawa takes Tokai for 6th. Safely back into the seeded bracket.
Brett Larner said…
Gitau starts 2:51/2:54/2:46. A little slow.
Brett Larner said…
Gitau pases Otsu for 2nd. He made up 49 seconds on Otsu in about 4 km. 15 km to catch Meiji's Hosokawa.
Brett Larner said…
Ouch, Nagoya Univ. misses the white sash start by less than 10 seconds.....
Brett Larner said…
Meiji's Hosokawa looks strong and smooth, but he only ran 15:30 through 5k. Gitau is only 38 seconds behind now. Looks like he's got it in the bag. If Meiji had Matsumoto on anchor it might be a different story.
Brett Larner said…
Fukatsu about to overtake Nakagawa of YG for 5th.

Daiichi Kogyo's anchor Kenyan Kariru is moving up from 10th.

Fukatsu into 5th.
Brett Larner said…
Gitau really wants to beat Mekubo Mogusu's stage record from last year but was 20 seconds behind at 5k.
Brett Larner said…
Gitau smiling as he passes Hosokawa at 7.4 km to take the lead.
Brett Larner said…
Gitau got hit in the head by a flag at 9 km and was checking his head for blood.
Brett Larner said…
Waseda's captain Ozaki riding in 4th. Fukatsu (Kmzw) 30 sec back with Nakagawa (YG) tailing him.
Brett Larner said…
Gitau - 28:17 for 10k. Not even close to Mogusu's record pace, but his last km was 2:44 - accelerating as he hits the hills.
Brett Larner said…
Nakagawa back ahead of Fukatsu, 5th-6th. Fukatsu was 2nd at the Hakone Ekiden Yosenkai 20k two weeks ago under 59:30.
Brett Larner said…
Chuo Gakuin anchor Kobayashi has moved up from 9th to 7th and is advancing on Nakagawa & Fukatsu. Top six are seeded for next year.
Brett Larner said…
The wind has come up, apparently.
Brett Larner said…
Hosokawa 1:12 behind Gitau with 7.9 km to go. Toyo's Otsu is 45 seconds behind Hosokawa - he's advanced about 20 sec but won't catch him.

Ozaki (Waseda) another 43 sec back in 4th.

Nakagawa has dropped Fukatsu. Chuo Gakuin's Kobayashi about 26 seconds behind Fukatsu - he might make 6th.
Brett Larner said…
Gitau doesn't look too good today.
Brett Larner said…
5 km to go for Gitau.
Brett Larner said…
Fukatsu in trouble in 6th -- Kobayashi is moving up.
Brett Larner said…
Kobayashi 21 sec behind Fukatsu now with 5.5 km to go, but Chuo's Oishi is coming up on Kobayashi.
Brett Larner said…
Gitau 49 sec off CR pace at 15 km.
Brett Larner said…
Oishi catches Kobayashi for 7th, but Kobayashi answers. Less than 20 sec to Fukatsu. 3 schools in contention for last seeded spot.
Brett Larner said…
Oishi a step ahead of Kobayashi, with 13 sec to Fukatsu. Looks windy, so Kobayashi may be using Oishi.

Waseda's Ozaki in big trouble in 4th - about to be caught by Yamanashi Gakuin's Nakagawa. Ozaki is holding his left side.

Toyo's Otsu in sight of 2nd place Meiji's Hosokawa with 3.5 km to go.
Brett Larner said…
Oishi really moving - Kobayashi gone, 8 sec to Fukatsu. 3.5 km to go.
Brett Larner said…
Otsu less than 10 sec back from Hosokawa - Hakone champs Toyo may take 2nd if they catch Meiji.
Brett Larner said…
The announcers are losing it because there's too much going on - Oishi 4 sec back from Fukatsu, and Fukatsu is looking back.
Brett Larner said…
Ozaki (Waseda) back in his groove - 17 sec on Nakagawa (YamGak).
Brett Larner said…
Less than 800 m to the win for Gitau and Nihon. Double Izumo-Nationals win for Nihon - can they make it a triple crown with Hakone in January?
Brett Larner said…
Oishi of Chuo takes Fukatsu with 2 km to go! Three-time def. champ Komazawa, 8 nat'l wins in last 10 years, now out of the seeded bracket.
Brett Larner said…
Gitau takes it - 5:21:03 win for Nihon, their 3rd national title and first in 4 years.
Brett Larner said…
Toyo's Otsu takes Meiji's Hosokawa with 800 m to go. 2009 Hakone champs will be 2nd.
Brett Larner said…
Victory invw for Nihon.

Toyo's anchor Otsu was the one who really broke Waseda in Hakone this year to make sure Toyo won.

Toyo 2nd in 5:24:39.
Meiji 3rd in 5:24:52 without top member Matsumoto (points to Mika for picking them)
Brett Larner said…
4th - Waseda - 5:25:46
5th - Yamanashi Gakuin - 5:26:05
6th - Chuo does it! - 5:26:26
----
7th - Komazawa
8th - Chuo Gakuin
9th - Tokai

...and that's all she wrote.
Chris M said…
Nice work Brett!

I didn't realize Japan Running News has a twitter feed? If so will you put the address up?
Brett Larner said…
Thanks. JRN's feed is JRNLive. I just set it up to start doing race commentary but the update limit presents problems. I will have to look at it in more detail.

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